Trang Nguyen: No response as of today to April 10, 2011 email asking the question.

Wendy Yuen: email dated April 11, 2011:

Dear Paul:

The issue you raise is one that should and must be acted upon. I am supportive and would want to review the legislation very carefully to ensure it meets the needs that you and others would advocate.

As you may well know, it was a Liberal MP, Shawn Murphy, from Charlottetown who introduced a motion back in 2008 which would have amended the Canada Health Act to ensure funding for ABA treatment for autism. The motion was defeated by an alliance between the Harper Conservatives and the Bloc Quebecois.

As you can see, it will important to have a strong Liberal government to get serious issues like this one you advocate for acted upon.

Hi Gillian, Lovely site still having a look at it. Maybe we shluod just change the wording of the opening paragraph a little: Hallo! Autism Eastern Cape has a new website that will make it easier for it to keep in touch with everyone looking for information and support in this region. to: Hi there! This is our new website that will make it easier for us to keep in touch with everyone looking for information and support in this region. It might just feel a bit more personal? Cheers,Nico

Shirley, thank you for your email. At this time, I am unable to make the commitment that you seek.

I want to assure you that I very much care for those who suffer from autism and for those who care for them. Indeed, my colleague Mike Lake, the MP for Millwoods Beaumont in Edmonton, who has a child with autism, has done significant work in raising awareness of autism on Parliament Hill and throughout Canada. That said, any discussion regarding opening up the Canada Health Act would have to involve the provinces and would have to take into account the needs of other diseases such as MS, Parkinsons, Cerebral Palsy, ALS, diabetes, the rare diseases, and many other health challenges that are demanding more federal and provincial funding. I am hopeful that, working together with the provinces and people like yourself, we will someday be able to find a cure for autism.

Asked at Riverside Secondary All Candidates Meeting today in School Gym for RIDING:
Port Moody–Westwood–Port Coquitlam

Incumbent JAMES MOORE was present. He has missed one meeting and was scorned in the local newspaper for his absence when caught tweeting about the hockey game.
* Kevin Kim Green Party of Canada – absent
* Mark Ireland New Democratic Party- answer YES
* Stewart McGillivray Liberal Party of Canada -answer YES
* James Moore Conservative Party of Canada – answer NO – autism is not a disability and The Canada Health Act is not for Special interest Groups.
* Paul Geddes Libertarian – definitely not – medicare should be privatized – the night before his reply to creating laws to Civil Rights for disabled people received the answer that minorities can’t expect handouts.

I thing we are one we have to help them for ourselves.
Time is limited ,helping these children brings
hapiness to our country and others not doing anything
means we are not human and nature dos’nt
like tha,t look what hapend in germany in 2’ed war world
they put these children to sleep for good. So act now
not tomarow. You will see the diffrent in your life .

A. I tweeted the following question to the 4 Election 2011 party candidates in the Fredericton NB riding:

“Will U support inclusion of #autism treatment in #medicare?”

B. The tweeted responses:

NDP – Jesse Travis: I will support the inclusion of treatment in Medicare, it’s the right thing to do

Green – Louise Comeau: platform not specific but believe we would support.

Liberal – Randy McKeen: While healthcare is a provincial responsibility, the federal govt has a vital role to play on #autism. we bring prov together, set goals & find innovative ways 2 deliver services. #Autism should b part of that. Committed to continuing to increase healthcare transfer funding to provinces by 6% after 2014 And we’ll implement an early child learn strategy that will put specialized care towards children w #autism

Candidate Response to Medicare For Autism Now Society
by Dione Costanzo on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 3:26pm
Monday, September 15, 2008
Deborah Meredith, Conservative Candidate Vancouver Quadra, Has No Time For Autism

Deborah Meredith, Conservative Candidate, Vancouver Quadra has no time to discuss issues affecting autistic children and adults. She is too busy trying to get elected to waste her time talking to an autism advocacy group in BC until AFTER the election as shown in this response to a group who had sought an interview with Ms Meredith:

“If elected I would be happy to meet with you to talk about autism and the Canada Health Act. I am awfully busy right now trying to win this election as I’m sure you can understand.”

Elections are generally the period when citizens seek answers from the candidates before deciding who to vote for. Ms Meredith’s refusal to meet with her own constituents to discuss this important issue shows exactly where her priorities lie.

As part of its party policy, the Progressive Canadian Party has since adopted the call for the amendment of the CHA to include funding for autism. Moreover, Brian’s continued commitment to assist with our cause in the past 2 1/2 years is the reason I decided to become his official agent during the current election.

In 2008, this is what happened in the riding of Tobique Mactaquac, New Brunswick:

Mike Allen, Conservative: NO
Sally McGrath, Liberal: Don’t care
Mark Glass, Green: Don’t care
Alice Finnamore, NDP: “My answer to your question is an unqualifed YES. I believe in science-based treatment of autism, and if elected will do everything I can to bring in coverage for ABA and IBI”

In the 2008 federal election campaign, I asked each of the candidates in my riding of West Vancouver – Sunshine Coast the following question, “If you are elected to parliament will you commit to publicy supporting legislation which will amend the Canada Health Act to include autism treatment?” These were the responses: Bill Forst, NDP: YESBlair Wilson, Green: “Yes, I fully support autism treatment being included in Medicare, my answer is YES to your question.” John Weston, Conservative: NO, Ian Sutherland, Liberal: “YES, I am publicly commiting to support amending the Canada Health Act to include autism under Medicare”

Erich Jacoby-Hawkins, Green: “YES. My brother-in-law is profoundly autistic, my aunt earned her Ph.D in autism spectrum disorder and is a professor teaching about it at the University of Windsor. So, I am very aware of the pressing need and very supportive of your cause.”
Patrick Brown, Conservative: Don’t care
Rick Jones, Liberal: “YES, I would be in support of legislation to include autism treatment under Medicare. Autism is so prevelent and it consumes the lives of people with autism and their family, it is very important for our government to recognize this rampant disorder in our Medicare system.”

Interesting BC responses….these are the candidate responses from Parry Sound-Muskoka, Ontario,in 2008:
Glen Hodgson, Green: NO
Jo-Anne Boulding, NDP: “YES, I am personally in favour”
Jamie McGarvey, Liberal: “YES, I most certainly would. I am a huge supporter of early childhood education and I also recognize that education is an important part of the process with autism treatment. I believe putting the money up front in the early stages for treatment reduces costs later on.”
Tony Clement (former federal Minister of Health): “NO – to answer directly, I cannot in good conscience support the addition of one specific condition to the CHA”